Equipmake, a British conversion company, has introduced a new iteration of its modular electric chassis designed to electrify diesel-powered Wrightbus Streetdeck buses. The Streetdeck model, also targeted for electrification by its manufacturer, Wrightbus, is set to benefit from Equipmake’s scalable Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED) and HTM 3500 electric motor, delivering 400 kW of power and 3,500 Nm of torque. The conversion includes a 436 kWh lithium-ion battery, enabling a range of up to 200 miles (322 km) on a single charge.
The retrofit solution integrates seamlessly into existing vehicle space without compromising passenger capacity, according to Equipmake. It incorporates an efficient thermal management system to optimize battery, motor, and inverter performance while offering DC charging capabilities.
Equipmake CEO Ian Foley highlighted the significance of their electric repower solution, stating, “Our Zero Emission Drivetrain technology has a crucial role to play in accelerating the transition to a fully electric UK fleet – and we look forward to converting as many of these vehicles as possible in the coming months.”
Meanwhile, Wrightbus has also entered the electric conversion arena through its NewPower business unit, aimed at converting diesel buses to electric midway through their lifecycle. While specifics were not confirmed in their press release, reports indicate Wrightbus’s focus initially on retrofitting Streetdeck buses aligns with Equipmake’s recent announcement.
Equipmake emphasized that their solution offers a conversion timeframe of just three weeks and costs less than £200,000, positioning it competitively against purchasing new electric buses outright.
Given the popularity of the Streetdeck model in the UK, with numerous fleets operating it nationwide, both Equipmake and Wrightbus anticipate significant demand for their respective electric conversion offerings.
